Rotary endless chain printing machine



Oct. 24, 1967 GANCARZ ET AL 3,348,478

ROTARY ENDLESS CHAIN PRINTING MACHINE' Filed Feb. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet1 CHAIN ADVANCING MECHANIS INVENTORS I I WALTEREGANCARZ Fig 2. I WILLIAA.MARION 7 IA I BY? ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1967 w. F. GANCARZ ET AL 3,348,478

ROTARY ENDLESS CHAIN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I N VEN TORS WALTER F. GANCARZ WILLIAM A. MARION ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,348,478 ROTARY ENDLESS (Ii-IAIN PRINTING MACl-lilNEWalter F. Gancarz and William A. Marion, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors toThe American Paper Products Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Filed Feb. 4, 1%5, Ser. No. 430,277 Claims. (Cl. 101-91) Thisinvention relates to improvements in printing cylinders of the typehaving an endless chain of typelinks, and more particularly to printingcylinders of the type described, for use in rotary print presses forprinting envelopes and the like wherein dates, numbers or other relativechangeable data is to be printed.

These rotary print presses normally are equipped with a printingcylinder, an impression cylinder and a date printing cylinder which aregeared together to rotate in unison. The date printing cylinder carriesan endless chain made up of type-links which are successively broughtinto printing position upon rotation of the cyl-- inders. This chain issupported by guides which are radially adjustable to permit a slightvariation in the number of type-links in the chain. The maximum numberof typelinks which can be included in the chain has heretofore beenlimited by the diameter of the date printing cylinder.

These rotary print presses are employed, for example,

in printing sets of church envelopes. Each'set includes one envelope foreach week of the year. Seven extra envelopes normally are included inthe set, one for each of the seven holy days. In the past, the sevenextra envelopes were printed separately and inserted by hand into eachof the sets of envelopes.

Accordingly, as an overall object, the present inven tion seeks toprovide an improved date printing cylinder capable of printing a greaternumber of envelopes than heretofore possible with conventional rotaryprint presses.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for convertingprinting cylinders of conventional rotary print presses whereby agreater number of envelopes may be automatically printed, the conversionbeing accomplished without increasing the diameter of the date printingcylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved date printingcylinder of a given diameter having a greater number of type-links thanconventional printing cylinders of the same diameter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an endless chain oftype-links of improved construction.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improveddate printing cylinder having a novel support member rotatable about therotational axis of the printing cylinder. At the periphery of thesupport member, there is provided a discontinuous guide track which issurrounded by and engaged by an endless chain of typelinks. A drivepinion is carried by the date printing cylinder in alignment with thediscontinuous guide track. The drive pinion is disposed interiorly ofthe endless chain and is engaged in driving relation therewith. Thedrive pinion serves to bring the type-links successively into printingposition.

Chain guide members are supported by the date printing cylinder inalignment with the discontinuous guide track. The chain guide members,however, are disposed exteriorly of the endless chain of type-links andare engaged therewith. The overall arrangement is such that the endlesschain is engaged with and extends externally of the discontinuous guidetrack and the drive pinion and internally of the chain guide members.The discontinuous guide track, the drive pinion and the chain guidemembers support the endless chain for movement along a circuitous pathof travel, which permits the ice length of the endless chain to begreater than the circumference of the date printing cylinder. Hence, inthe present date printing cylinder, the number of type-links in theendless chain is greater than the number of typelinks of the endlesschains of conventional date printing cylinders. The chain guide membersare supported for movement toward and away from the support member so asto place the endless chain under tension.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line II of FIG. 2,illustrating the date printing cylinder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line II-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of an improved endless chain oftype-links, with portions cut away to show details;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 1,illustrating chain guide members;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2,illustrating adjustment means for the chain guide members;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View, similar to FIG. 1,illustrating an alternative adjutment means for the chain guide members;and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a date printingcylinder 10 and an impression cylinder 12. The impression cylinder 12 ofof conventional construction and is rotated by a drive gear 14. The dateprinting cylinder 10 comprises, in general, a drive shaft 16 having adrive gear 18 meshing with the drive gear 14 whereby the date printingcylinder 10 and the impression cylinder 12 are rotated in unison. Aconventional drive means, schematically illustrated at 2% serves torotate the drive shaft 16 at the desired speed.

Secured to the drive shaft 16 is a support member 22 provided with adiscontinuous guide track, indicated generally by the numeral 24. Adrive pinion or sprocket 26 is supported by a rod 28 in alignment withthe discontinuous guide track 24. The rod 28 has its ends journaled inand supported by spaced, mounting plates 30 which are secured to androtate with the drive shaft 16. Chain guide members 32 are supported byrods 34 in alignment with the discontinuous guide track 24. The rods 34extend between and are secured to the spaced, mounting plates 30. Anendless chain 36 of type-links 38 is engaged with and extends externallyof the discontinuous guide track 24 and the drive pinion 26 and isengaged with and extends internally of the chain guide members 32.

The endless chain 36 employed in the date printing cylinder 10, includesfifty-nine of the type-links 38, i.e., one of the type-links 38 for eachof the fifty-two weeks of a calendar year and one of the type-links 38for each of the seven holy days. It should be evident, however, that theendless chain 36may contain more than or less than fifty-nine of thetype-links 38 as required. The important fact to note is that it is nowpossible to auto matically print fifty-nine sequential dates on a set offifty-nine envelopes.

The endless chain 36 meshes with and is advanced by the drive pinion 26.A chain advancing mechanism, schematically illustrated at 40, serves toadvance the endless chain 36 upon rotation of the date printing cylinder10 whereby each of the type-links 38 are brought successive ly into aprinting position indicated at P. Since the chain advancing mechanism 40is conventional in the art, it

has not been completely illustrated in the drawings. However, for abetter understanding of the operation of the date printing cylinder 10,it will be sufficient to state that the chain advancing mechanism 46could comprise, for example, a pinion carried by the rod 28, whichmeshes with an idler gear having, in this instance, fifty-nine teeth andbeing rotatable about the central axis of the drive shaft 16, and a camactuated pawl engageable with and for rotating the idler gear throughsuccessive increments, the overall arrangement being such that theendless chain 36 is advanced along its circuitous path by one type-link38 after each complete revolution of the date printing cylinder 10.Thus, after each complete revolution of the date printing cylinder 10,the next successive type-link 38 is moved into the printing position.For a more complete description of chain advancing mechanisms suitablefor use with the present date printing cylinder, attention is directedto US. Patent Nos. 1,792,642 and The printing position P is defined asthat position of the date printing cylinder 10 wherein each of thetypelinks 38 is dispose-d adjacent to the impression cylinder 12. Atthis time, an envelope or the like (not shown) will be interposedbetween the impression cylinder 12 and the type-link 38 whereby animpression is made on the envelope.

The support member 22 comprises a generally cylindrical steel memberprovided with a pair of opposed cutouts 42 and a central cutout 44. Thepair of opposed cutouts 42 serves to receive the chain guide members 32and those portions of the endless chain 36 engaged with the chain guidemembers 32. The central cutout portion 44 receives the drive pinion 26.

The discontinuous guide track 24 is disposed along the periphery of thesupport member 22 and comprises edge portions 46 of the support member22, each of which is provided with a projecting rib 48 (shown in FIG. 2)receivable within slots 50 provided in the typelinks 38 of the endlesschain 36; and a plurality of roller members 52 rotatably supportedwithin slots 54 formed in the support member 22 at the ends of theopposed cutouts 42. Hence, the endless chain 36 is supported formovement along a circuitous path of travel which permits the length ofthe endless chain 36 to be greater than the circumference of the datecylinder 10. Accordingly, the

number of type-links 38 contained in the endless chain 36 is greaterthan the number of type-links contained in endless chains of prior-artdate printing cylinders. Therefore, a greater number of successiveenvelopes may be printed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, at least one set or pair andpreferably two pairs of the chain guide members are employed in thepresent date printing cylinder 10. The chain guide members 32 preferablycomprise two spaced roller or bearing members 56a, 56b which 2116coaxially aligned and positionable along an enlarged shaft portion 58 ofthe rod 34. The bearing member 56a is retained on the enlarged shaftportion 58, for example, by being forced over the knurls 60 provided onthe enlarged shaft portion 58. The bearing member 56b is provided with acollar 62 through which extends a set screw 64, for securing the bearingmember 56b to the enlarged shaft portion 58. Hence, both of the bearingmembers 56a, 56b are adjustable along the enlarged shaft portion 58. Theouter races of the bearing members 56a, 56b are freely rotatable aboutthe shaft 34 and hence provide freely rotatable surfaces for guiding theendless chain 36 along its circuitous path of travel about the supportmember 22. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the rod 34 is threaded at each endand is provided with pairs of nuts 66 for securing the rod 34 to thespaced, mounting plates 30. The length of the threaded end portions ofthe rod 34 is such that the rod 34 may be moved transversely of thesupport member 22 so as to position the chain guide members 22 inalignment with the discontinuous guide track 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the endless chain 36 is composed of aplurality of type-links 38 each having hinge elements 68 projectingtherefrom. Each adjacent pair of the type-links 38 are hinged togetherby means of a link pin 78 extending through the hinge elements 68. Inthe present endless chain 36, the length of the link pins 70 is greaterthan the width of the individual typelinks 38, the arrangement beingsuch that the link pins 70 engage the outer races of the bearing members56a, 56b of the chain guide members 32, as best illustrated in FIG. 4.Furthermore, the bearing members 56a, 56b are spaced apart by a distancewhich is slightiy greater than the width of the type-links 38.Therefore, the type-links 38 pass between the bearing members 56a, 56bduring the advancement of the endless chain 36 along the discontinuousguide track 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive pinion 26 is of improveddesign and serves to support each of the type-links 38 at a plurality ofpoints when at the printing position P, whereby each of the type-links38 is rigidly supported during a printing operation. Therefore, a lessernumber of smudged imprints will occur. The drive pinion 26 has a bodyportion 76 through which the rod 28 extends. Set screws 78 secure thedrive pinion 26 to the rod 28. The drive pinion 26 is provided with acentral sprocket 88 which is receivable within the slots 50 formed inthe type-links 38. The central sprocket 80 engages the central portionsof the link pins 78 during the passage of the typelinks 38 around thedrive pinion 26. Lateral or outboard sprockets 82 are provided at theends of the body portion 76. The outboard sprockets 82 are spaced apartby a distance which is greater than the Width of the individualtype-links 38 and, therefore, engage the projecting end portions of thelink pins 70. When each of the typelinks 38 is at the printing positionP, it is supported at six spaced points. As can be seen in FIG. 1, oneof the typelinks 38 is disposed at the printing position. This typelink38 has two link pins 70, one on each side, whose central portions areengaged with the central sprocket 8t! and whose projecting end portionsare engaged with the lateral or outboard sprockets 82. Hence, each ofthe link pins 70 on either side of the type-link 38 is supported atthree spaced points along its length. It should be evident then thateach of the type-links 38 is rigidly supported when at the printingposition P and therefore a fewer number of smudged imprints will result.

The chain guide members 32 are supported for movement toward and awayfrom the support member 22 whereby longer or shorter length endlesschains may be supported in the present date printing cylinder 10 andwhereby the endless chain 36 may be placed under an appropriate amountof tension. As illustratedin FIG. 5, each end of the rod 34 extendsthrough a radially extending elongated slot 84 formed in each of themounting plates 30. In this embodiment, the chain guide members 32 aredisplaceable radially of the drive shaft 16.

An alternative means for supporting each of the guide members 32 formovement toward and away from the support member 22 is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. Corresponding numerals will be employed to identifycorresponding parts already described. As can be seen, the bearingmembers 56a, 56b which comprise the chain guide members 32, arerotatably supported on a shaft 88 having an end portion 90 of reduceddiameter. A support arm 92 has a first end 94 detachably secured to thesupport member 22 by means of a machine screw 96, and a second end 98 inwhich the end portion 90 of the shaft 88 is secured. It should beevident that when the machine screw 96 is loosened, the arm 92 ispivotal thereabout whereby the chain guide members 32 may be movedtoward or away from the support member 22.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with certainspecific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may bemade to suit recarried by said printing cylinder in alignment with saiddiscontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by said printingcylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; and anendless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally ofsaid discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally ofsaid chain guide members; successive ones of said type- ,links beingmovable into printing position with a point on the periphery of saiddata printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through acircle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater thanthe circumference of said circle.

2. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combinationcomprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; adiscontinuous guide track comprising edge portions of said supportmember and roller members carried by said support member; a drive pinioncarried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuousguide track; chain guide members carried by saidprinting cylinder inalignment with said discontinuous guide track; and an endless chain oftypelinks engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuousguide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guidemembers; successive ones of said type-links being movable into printingposition with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinderrotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter;the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of saidcircle.

3. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combinationcomprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; adiscontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; adrive sprocket carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with saiddiscontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by said printingcylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; and anendless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally ofsaid discontinuous guide track and said drive sprocket and internally ofsaid chain guide members; each of the type-links having a rod projectingfrom each end thereof and being engageable in said drive sprocket;successive ones of said typelinks being movable into printing positionwith a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotatingabout said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; thelength of said chain being greater than the circumference of saidcircle.

4. In a date printing cylinder of a given diameter, having ,a rotationalaxis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about saidrotational axis; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of saidsupport member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder inalignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide memberscarried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuousguide track, said chain guide members comprising at least one pair ofspaced, coaxially aligned roller members; ,and an endless chain oftypelinks engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuousguide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guidemembers, each of the typelinks having a rod projecting from each endthereof; said roller members being spaced apart by a distance greaterthan the width of said type-links; said type-links being positioned topass between said spaced roller members with said rods engaging theouter surfaces of said roller members.

5. In a date printing cylinder of a given diameter, having a rotationalaxis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about saidrotational axis; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of saidsupport member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder inalignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide memberscarried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuousguide track, said chain guide members comprising sets of spaced,coaxially aligned roller members carried by said printing cylinder andpositioned at the discontinuities of said discontinuous guide track; andan endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally ofsaid discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally ofsaid sets of said roller members; each of the type-links having a rodprojecting from each end thereof; the roller members of each of saidsets of roller members being spaced apart by a distance greater than thewidth of said type-links; said type-links being positioned to passbetween the spaced roller members of each of said sets of roller memberswith said rods engaging the outer surfaces of said roller members.

'6. In a date printing cylinder of a given diameter, having a rotationalaxis, the combination comprising: a supand internally of said chainguide members; each of the type-links having a rod projecting from eachend thereof; said rods being engageable with said drive sprockets formoving said endless chain; the roller members of said pair of rollermembers being spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of saidtype-links; said type-links being positioned to pass between said pairof roller members with said rods engaging the outer surfaces of saidpair of roller members.

7. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combinationcomprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; ,adiscontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; adrive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with saiddiscontinuous guide track; chain guide members positioned in alignmentwith said discontinuous guide track; means supporting said chain guidemembers for movement toward and away from said support member; and anendless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally ofsaid discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally ofsaid chain guide members; successive ones of said type-links beingmovable into printing position with a point on the periphery of saiddate printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through acircle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater thanthe circumference of said circle.

3. In a rotary print press for printing relatively changeable data onenvelopes and the like, the combination of a printing cylindercomprising a drive shaft supporting spaced mounting plates, a supportmember rotatable with said drive shaft and positioned between saidmounting plates, a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of saidsupport member, a drive pinion rotatably supported by said mountingplates in alignment with said discontinuous guide track, chain guidemembers supported by said mounting plates in alignment with saiddiscontinuous guide track, said drive pinion and said chain guidemembers being positioned .at the discontinuities in the discontinuousguide track, an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extendingexternally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion andinternally of said chain guide members, and means operatively connectedwith said drive pinion for advancing said endless chain upon rotation ofsaid printing cylinder to bring the type-links successively intoprinting position; successive ones of said type-links being movable intoprinting position with a point on the periphery of said date printingcylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of givendiameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumferenceof said circle.

9. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combinationcomprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; adiscontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; adrive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with saiddiscontinuous guide track; chain guide members positioned in alignmentwith said discontinuous guide track; arm means for supporting said chainguide members, said arm means being pivotally supported by said supportmember whereby said chain guide members are movable toward and away fromsaid support member; and .an endless chain of type-links engaged withand extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and saiddrive pinion and internally of said chain guide members; successive onesof said type-links being movable into printing position with a point onthe periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about saidrotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of saidchain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

10. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, thecombination comprising: a drive shaft supporting spaced mounting plates;a support member rotatable with said drive shaft and positioned betweensaid mounting plates; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery ofsaid support member; a drive pinion rotatably supported by said mountingplates in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guidemembers; rod means extending between said mounting plates for supportingsaid chain guide members in alignment with said discontinuous guidetrack; means for detachably securing the ends of said rod means to saidmounting plates whereby said chain guide members are supported formovement toward and away from said support member; and an endless chainof type-links engaged with and extending externally of saiddiscontinuous guide track ,and said drive pinion and internally of saidchain guide members; successive ones of said type-links being movableinto printing position with a point on the periphery of said dateprinting cylinder rotating about said rotational .axis through a circleof given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than thecircumference of said circle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 710,997 10/ 1902 Pitney 101-79777,898 12/ 1904 Houghton 101-60 1,421,884 7/1922 Yohns 101-1221,792,642 2/1931 Jones 101-91 1,974,369 9/ 1934 Shomaker 101-1112,116,609 5/1938 Shomaker 101-91 2,807,999 10/1957 Koeber 101-913,216,348 11/1965 Oldenburg et a1. 101-111 X WILLIAM B. PENN, PrimaryExaminer.

1. IN A DATE PRINTING CYLINDER HAVING A ROTATIONAL AXIS, THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING: A SUPPORT MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID ROTATIONAL AXIS; ADISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER; ADRIVE PINION CARRIED BY SAID PRINTING CYLINDER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAIDDISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK; CHAIN GUIDE MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID PRINTINGCYLINDER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK; AND ANENDLESS CHAIN OF TYPE-LINKS ENGAGED WITH AND EXTENDING EXTERNALLY OFSAID DISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK AND SAID DRIVE PINION AND INTERNALLY OFSAID CHAIN GUIDE MEMBERS; SUCCESSIVE ONES OF SAID TYPELINKS BEINGMOVABLE INTO PRINTING POSITION WITH A POINT ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAIDDATA PRINTING CYLINDER ROTATING ABOUT SAID ROTATIONAL AXIS THROUGH ACIRCLE OF GIVEN DIAMETER; THE LENGTH OF SAID CHAIN BEING GREATER THANTHE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CIRCLE.